New Year Recipe – Namasu of Daikon & Carrot

January 2, 20110 comments

If you’ve ever been in Japan for New Year you may have indulged in some traditional Japanese New Year’s fare – osechi ryori.

Osechi ryori is made in advance as little if any housework is done during the new year’s celebrations. Pickling, smoking, marinating and simmering are common techniques of hozonshoku – foods that keep/preserve well.

There are typically at least 9 dishes which are served in a beautiful lacquerware bento box called a jubako with several tiers.

The dishes of osechi ryori are individually symbolic with vivid colours and nutritious ingredients for a good luck, health, fertility, peace and happiness.

The traditional namasu – raw vinegared dish – that is served on New Year’s Day is daikon radish & carrot pickles.

In Japan you can buy red carrots. The red of the carrot and white of the daikon symbolise good luck for the New Year.